Last sunday, I got a call from a fellow collector and old gasser, to tell me about a pump that I should buy in South Dakota! He went on to explain that it was a long ways away, and he didn't have time to get there before someone else spotted it. When he told me that it was a Wayne 60 Showcase pump, I started paying closer attention! He didn't have a link for me, but explained where it was in South Dakota and that it was on Craigslist! Just punch in central South Dakota and the words 'gas pump" and it will come up, he said.
Any time you mention "Showcase" around me, I get very interested, and take the time to check it out anyway. I had visions in my head of a beat up, rusted out old hulk that is laying out on a side hill somewhere, because the location is an area where there is nothing for miles, but rolling pastures and sage brush!
When the picture popped up on the computer, I couldn't believe my eyes! There was the nicest patina'd 60 that I had ever seen and it was a flippin showcase to boot! I looked and the ad had already been up for 5 days and my heart instantly sank, because I knew this pump had to be gone already! There was a phone number listed, and after 5 long rings, someone on the other end answered, kinda out of breath? I explained the purpose of my call and inquired as to the availability of the pump and waited until she got done explaining about the pump and why it was for sale, and then I asked her again if she still had it?
She indicated that she still had it, but it wasn't going to get any cheaper, and that she was just selling a few of her deceased fathers possessions to help pay for some health problems of her mother! I breathed a sigh of relief and proceeded to tell her that I would buy it, and I would be there the next day with cash in hand. I explained the distance involved and told her I couldn't leave until the bank opened in the morning, and asked if that was alright and if the plan suited her? She said we had a deal, and then I went on to talk about Craigslist problems when distance is involved and the threat of someone else offering more while I was enroute. She told me that since I was from North Dakota, and about the same age as her, we were probably raised the same way and that her word was a binding contract and that she trusted that I would be there tomorrow!
As I hung up the phone, I couldn't help but dance a little jig around my office and shout out loud! The Warden got a little worried until I explained what had just happened, and she smiled and said, "I guess its an early Christmas for you"!
I got very lucky the next morning as I hit the bank right at 7:30 as they opened, and the weather was great, except for some high winds. It was about 5 1/2 hours later when I rolled into her yard, and she met me with her neighbor there to help with the lifting. She asked for the cash right away, and I handed it to her and she shoved it into her pocket. I asked if she would like to count it, and she said--no, I trust you and I don't believe you'd come all this way with the wrong amount! LOL, I told her that she had a valid point and we shook hands and headed over to load the pump.
Here are the pictures of the building that it was in, and the pump itself. She explained that her father was somewhat of a packrat and that pump had been sitting in the same place for over 50 years!
LOL--I'm still dancing!
